In the wake of last autumn's perceived epidemic of shoplifting in Gloucestershire, new figures for the start of trading in 2024 suggest the problem is not going away.

In fact, data from the Economic Policy Centre, which analyses police force activity across the UK, shows reported shoplifting incidents within Gloucestershire Constabulary's beat rose in January to the highest for FOUR months.

In all, 371 cases were recorded by the county's policeforce - with retailers believing that the figure represents only a fraction of cases given their experience of theft by unidentified individuals and incidents where exasperated and resource-pressed shop owners are failing to report. 

December's final tally of thefts was 349, while the figures for January were exceeded only in September last year.

The data follows on Punchline-Gloucester.com's report on the Co-Op group recording significant costs  from the crime within its latest annual figures: recording 336,270 incidents in its stores for the year, the Co-Op said staff are being targeted 1,000 times a day and highlighted one attack by a gang wielding machetes. In all, a 44% annual rise on theft against the previous year's figures helped dent the supermarket's profits.

The retail migraine for Gloucestershire came to the fore last October when Cheltenham was revealed by police as having experienced 1,238 reported thefts. 

At the time, police indicated that many offenders were "shoplifting for survivalist reasons", while prolific thieves were also active. Theft from shops rose in the county by 39% in 2023, with Stroud seeing a 78% surge on 2022's data, while Gloucester was recognised as the epicentre for the crime, recording almost 1,400 thefts in all.

Supt Roddy Gosden said at the time: "We see a wide demographic around who commit the offences. What we have seen in recent months is the number of people shoplifting for the first time."

Such activity indicated that lack of money, rather than a lifestyle choice, was a significant factor, he said.

Tony Davey, chair of Stroud's Chamber of Commerce, added that the trend was also fuelled by the influence of TikTok, because some think "it's a fun idea to do what they call 'borrow' from shops which essentially is stealing from them".

While national retailers are pressuring the government for more action on theft, the Federation of Small Businesses is urging voters in the upcoming local and PCC elections to hold candidates feet to the fire: it wants to see shoplifting being "treated as a a priority in Police and Crime Plans and in manifestos for all those standing for election in May 2024, demonstrating commitments to business crime from the beginning to the end of their term."

Furthermore, it is pressuring the Home Office to introduce a separate offence for violence against retail workers.

The FSB said the government must clarify that there is no £200 threshold for investigating organised shoplifting offences.

It said: "There is currently an impression that shoplifters will not be arrested if they steal under £200 worth of goods. Correcting this impression would send a clear message that lower value organised shoplifting offences will not be tolerated."

And technology may also be a cause for optimism amid today's grim statistics: with an estimated £70m bill being faced by the Co-Op for last year's retail loss, the supermarket said it is now looking to AI as a tool to cut "middle class" self-checkout theft.

The retailer is currently using new software that links AI to CCTV cameras and tracks produce from the shelf to the shopper's final bag at the till.

Matt Hood, the Co-Op Group's food MD, told media: "Last year, we experienced something like £70m worth of loss... however the real cost is the physical and mental wellbeing of colleagues."

Gloucestershire Police are meanwhile offering a six-point guide to retailers on how to make their business less likely to be hit. Novel tips include ensuring a verbal greeting to visitors and keeping sales areas tidy, as well as advising on "safety in numbers".

The force said: "Thieves target stores where there is only one member of staff. More eyes in the store, means you're more likely to spot a thief, so have a few members of staff and make sure they're trained in how to spot shoplifters."